Sealed receptacle



July 4, 1950 H. LOMBARD SEALED RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 21, 1946 PatentedJuly 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 9 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to bags or receptacles constructedof fabric or fabric composition, and deals, more particularly, with animproved construction for a receptacle of this character including meansfor tightly sealing the receptacle but capable of being easily andquickly opened to expose the contents of the receptacle in a minimum oftime and effort.

The invention is particularly suited for use as a pack or bag for dyemarker material carried as rescue equipment by persons traveling overwater and used in emergencies for coloring an area of water to provide asignal which will attract the attention of rescue aircraft. While theinvention is particularly suited for this purpose, it is not limited tosuch use inasmuch as the improved construction of the bag or receptacleis one of general utility and mayreadily be adapted for use in a widerange and variety of applications.

In general, dye marker packs comprise a bag portion which is easily andquickly opened together with a tape for attaching the bag to a lifevest. The construction of the dye marker pack heretofore used has beenobjectionable in that it fails to withstand satisfactorily ordinaryhandling and usage and all too often breaks open when not intended ordesired, particularly along the seam of adhesive adjacent to the pulltab. This is due to the fact that in previous dye marker packs, the pulltab and adjacent seam of adhesive are exposed, and under ordinaryhandling and usage, there is necessarily a frequent, rubbing, pushing orpulling effect on the tab which gradually causes the adjacent seam ofadhesive to work'open and permit escape of the dye marker substance fromthe pack. Considerable trouble and difficulty thereby result by reasonof the fact that the dye marker substance is highly injurious to theskin and readily causes stains and discoloration of clothing and anyother gear it contacts.

A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a dye markerpack which overcomes the foregoing deficiencies and which may be easilymanufactured, at relatively low cost, from a single piece of material toprovide a strong, durable receptacle that may be tightl sealed and yetis capable of being opened readily whenever desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. dye marker pack ofthis character comprising a pull tab for opening'the bag, together witha cover flap protecting the pull tab against wear and handling whichwould tend to 1095611 the D1111 tab and cause an undesired or unintendedopening of the pack. At the same time, the pull tab is readilyaccessible at all times simply by lifting the cover flap and may beeasily and quickly actuated to break open the pack when desired in themost expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having theforegoing features of construction together with an improved reinforcingarrangement for securing the attaching tape thereto in a manner whichwithstands the most severe conditions of constant usage and handling.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may beincident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists of theparts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed withthe understanding that the several necessary elements constituting thesame may be varied in proportion and arrangement without departing fromthe nature and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims:

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shownin the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the invention intopractical effect without limiting the improvements in their usefulapplication to the particular construction and arrangement which, forpurpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the improved receptacle;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the receptacle showing thegeneral construction thereof;

Figure 3 shows the improved receptacle as worn on a life vest andillustrating the method of opening the pack; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the receptacle showing thedetails of construction thereof.

Referring now, more particularly to the drawings, the improvedreceptacle I0 is best seen in Figures 2 and 4 as constructed preferablyfrom a single piece of fabric which is folded intermediate its ends at Hto define the front 20 and back 30 of the pack. The longitudinal edgeportions of the pack are secured together by striplike areas of adhesivel5, Figure 1, and along the lower fold at I 6 if desired for addedstrength.

The opening at the top of the pocket defined by the front'and backportions 20, 30, respectively, is sealed by a film of adhesive 33. Thefront 20 of the package has its free end folded adjacent 3 the top ofthe pocket thus provided to define a pull 2i and a portion of this pulltab is further secured by reinforcing adhesive 36 to the underside of acover flap 3i extending from the back 35).

The back 38 of the pack extends upwardly to the top of the pack and isfolded to provide a double layer of material 35. The extremity of thetop layer of this doublelayer of fabric 35 extends free to provide theflap 3| overlying the pull tab 2! at the top of the pack.

The double layer of material 35, at the top of the pack preferably isdesigned of such length as to provide a return foldedportion 36 foraccommodating an attaching tape 46 which is secured to the pack as byrivets ll, or stitching-or equivalent means.

In manufacture, it will be understood, that the dye marker substance 9rother contents of the pack are inserted within the pocket defined by theadhesivel secured front and backportions 20,35, respectively, whereuponthe film of adhesive 33 is applied to seal the opening of the pack andthe adhesive 34 adjacent the top of the pack applied to secure the underface of the rear portion of flap M to the upper face of the pull tab M,with the free end portion of the flap 3i overlying the free end of pulltab 2|. In mass production methods of assembly, the bags are thusprepared with their contents, whereupon the attachrnent of the tape 40under the folded portion 36 is easily effected by rivets,.stitching orthe like.

'As illustrated in Figure :3, for example, with the pack attached to alife vest by the tape 49, the wearer has little difiiculty in graspingthe pull tab?! in one hand and the cover flap 3! in the other hand, andupon pulling the same apart, the pack separates in the area of the reinsforcing adhesive 34, then at 33, and then in the areas i along the sidesof the bag in a manner whereby the contents of the pack are easily andquickly freed therefrom.

It will be appreciated that in the construction ofthe bag or receptacleof the present invention, thecover flap 3i overlies the pull tab 2| andthereby shields the pull tab 2| at all times against any rubbing,pushing or pulling effect which could be effective past the film ofprotective adhesive 3G to cause the pull tab 2] to separate from thesealing adhesive 33 and permit an undesired or unintended opening of thepack.

It will also be appreciated that the arrangement whereby the bag may bemade of a single piece of fabric provides astrong and durableconstruction which may be manufactured at rela-. tively low cost.

A further advantage resides in theconstruction comprising the doublelayer-of fabric 35 including the folded portion 35 for attaching thetape in a manner which is adapted to withstand any force that might tendto tear the tape from the pack in the normal use thereof.

The invention has been described in connection with its use as areceptacle for dye marker packs, and the like, but it will be quiteapparent that it has equal utility in various other applications anduses.

'It will be understood that the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings comprehend only the general'and preferredembodiment of theinvention, and that various changes in the con struction, proportion,arrangement and general combination may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiment istherefore to'be considered in 4 all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changesfalling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claimsintended to be embraced therein.

7 The-invention described'herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

v1. A receptacle comprising front and back portionsof sheet materialdefining a pocket, a commodity contained in said pocket, a tab definedby a fold on said front portion extending outwardly thereof and having afree end, a flap extending from said back portion at a point beyond thefold on the front pprtion and having a free end overlying said tab, andmeans at each side of said fold in said front portion sealing saidpocket with said free ends of the tab and flap unsecured, whereby saidfree ends are readily adapted to be separately held and pulled apart foropening the sealed pocket.

2. A receptacle comprising front and back portions of sheet materialdefining a pocket, a commodity contained in said pocket, a tab definedby a fold on said front portion extending outwardly thereof and having afree end, said back portion having a fold at a point beyond the fold onsaid'front portion defining a flap having afree end overlying said tab,and means at each side of said fold in said front portion sealing saidpocket with said free ends of the tab and flap unsecured, whereby saidfree ends are readily adapted to be separately held and pulled apart foropening the sealed pocket.

3. A receptacle comprising front and back per.- tions of sheet materialdefining a pocket, a commodity contained in said pocket, a tab definedby a fold on said front portion extending outwardly thereof and havingafree end, said backportion having a, fold at a point beyond the fold onsaid front portion defining a flap having a free end overlying said tab,means sealing said pocket and securing the flap and tab together atpoints removed from their free ends with said free ends of the tab andflap unsecured, whereby said free ends are readily adapted to beseparately heldand pulled apart for opening the sealed pocket, said backportion adjacent the fold therein having a second fold, and an attachingtape secured within said second fold.

4. A receptacle comprising a section of sheet material folded to definefront and back portions secured to provide a sealed pocket, a commoditycontained in said pocket, a tab defined by a fold on said front portionextending outwardly thereof and having a free end, a flap extendingfromsaid back portion at a point beyond the fold on the front portionand having a free end overlying said tab, and means securing the flapand tab together at points removed from their free ends with said freeends of the tab and flap unsecured, whereby said free ends are readilyadapted to be separately held and pulled apart for opening the sealedpocket.

5. A receptacle comprising a section of sheet material folded to definefront and back portions suitably secured to provide a sealed pocket, acommodity contained in said pocket, a tab defined by a fold on saidfront portion extending outwardly thereof and having a free end, saidback portion having a fold at a point beyond the fold on said" frontportion defining a fiap having a free end overlying said tab, and meanssecuring the flap and tab together at points removed from their freeends with said free ends of the tab and flap unsecured, whereby saidfree ends are readily adapted to be separately held and pulled apart foropening the sealed pocket.

6. A receptacle comprising a section of sheet material folded to definefront and back portions suitably secured to provide a sealed pocket, acommodity contained in said pocket, a tab defined by a fold on saidfront portion extending outwardly thereof and having a free end, saidback portion having a fold at a point beyond the fold on said frontportion defining a flap having a free end overlying said tab, meanssecuring the fiap and 7 tab together at points removed from their freeends with said free ends of the tab and flap unsecured, whereby saidfree ends are readily adapted to be separately held and pulled apart foropening the sealed pocket, said back portion adjacent the fold thereinhaving a second fold, and an attaching tape secured in said second fold.

7. A receptacle comprising a section of sheet material folded to definefront and back portions forming a pocket, a commodity contained in saidpocket, a tab defined by a fold on said front portion extendingoutwardly thereof and having a free end, a flap extending from said backportion at a point beyond the fold on the front portion and having afree end overlying said tab, and a film of adhesive at each side of saidfold in said front portion sealing said pocket with said free ends ofthe tab and flap unsecured, whereby said free ends are readily adaptedto be separately held and pulled apart for opening the sealed pocket.

8. A receptacle comprising a section of sheet material folded to definefront and back portions forming a pocket, a commodity contained in saidpocket, a tab defined by a fold on said front portion extendingoutwardly thereof and having a free end, said back portion having a foldat a point beyond the fold on said front portion defining a flap havinga free end overlying said tab, and a film of adhesive at each side ofsaid fold in said front portion sealing said pocket with said free endsof the tab and fiap unsecured, whereby said free ends are readilyadapted to be separately held and pulled apart for opening the sealedpocket.

9. A receptacle comprising a section of sheet material folded to definefront and back portions forming a pocket, a commodity contained in saidpocket, a tab defined by a, fold on said front portion extendingoutwardly thereof and having a free end, said back portion having a foldat a point beyond the fold on said front portion defining a flap havinga free end overlying said tab, a film of adhesive sealing said pocketand a second film of adhesive securing the fiap and tab together atpoints removed from their free ends, said back portion adjacent the foldtherein having a second fold, and an attaching tape secured in saidsecond fold.

HERMAN LOMBARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,182,174 Hogan May 9, 19162,161,474 Klein June 6, 1939 2,305,402 Avery et a1 Dec. 15, 19422,339,304 Von Haase Jan. 18, 1944 2,373,285 Baer Apr. 10, 1945 2,418,397Collyer et a1 Apr. 1, 1947

